Why the Big Game means so much this year

Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesBefore the season, I didn’t imagine Stanford would enter the Big Game with a 4-6 record.

I figured KJ Costello would be good enough to lead Stanford to a 7-3 record at this point, and the Cardinal might have an outside chance at winning the PAC-12 North. Instead, Costello has been banged up, and injuries have depleted Stanford. Now, Stanford heads into the Big Game fighting to keep its 10-game bowl streak alive, but this game means so much more than keeping that streak.

Win or lose, Stanford’s bowl streak of 10 consecutive games will end. Stanford can’t possibly beat Notre Dame, who at 8-2 will likely make a New Years’ Six game.…